One:
Use your paint markers to paint the wood strip. I decided to go with a bright pink for more color block pop, but I left the paint layers thin enough to show some wood grain.

Two:
Use your jewelry wire cutters to cut three equal lengths of wire, then use your pliers and crimp to secure them together. Cut off any excess.

Three:
Braid the three wires together. Crimp the other end together as well.

Four:
Use your round nose pliers to curl the end of two headpins into a loop.

Five:
Place whatever beads you’d like (if any) on the headpins before using the tacky glue to attach them to the backside of your wood piece. Allow this to dry for a bit.

Six:
Use another head pin to create a loop and attach the wood block to the braided wire on each side. Cut the braided wire in the middle and fit it to your wrist. Cut off any excess and secure with crimps.

Seven:
Use another headpin loop to attach a lobster clasp to the end of your braided wire. Attach yet another headpin loop to the other end for clasping to. All done!

I know. I’ve been slacking again…. You ought to all know that this happens sometimes by now, and also that I never have an actual excuse. Let’s not dwell on that shall we?

I have a crafty thing for you all today!

I made this painting of my beloved last week. I figured I’d share with you all how to create a similar portrait of your own pets!

You Need:
-A canvas
-A photo of your pet (I edited my photo to be a high contrast black and white photo so that it is easier to pick out the shapes)
-Paint (I used acrylic)
-Paint brushes
-Graphite transfer paper (Like this here)
-A pen or marker

One:
Use your pen/marker to trace the shapes you see on your photo. Even if the shapes are more organic, trace them to be geometric. Cully (my kitty) has a lot of colors going on, so I had a lot of shapes.

Two:
Place a piece of transfer paper over your canvas graphite side down. Place your pet photo on top of that and use your pen to re-trace the shapes you have drawn. Make sure you apply a decent amount of pressure to ensure the drawing transfers well to the canvas.

Three:
Remove the photo and transfer paper to reveal the drawing on the canvas. Pick out a few colors to use in your painting. I used three different shades of blue because I wanted my painting to be monochromatic, but I feel this would be nifty with three totally different colors as well! Determine what shapes should be what color. I labeled them as I went to create a sort of paint by numbers deal.

Four:
Paint in your shapes and allow your art to dry. Done.

I think I may attempt a few more of these with different color combinations and photos in the future… maybe some architectural photos… hmm.

I completed this quick little project in one afternoon while watching Netflix… lazy day. I enjoy adding a bit of personality to things. On occasion I will buy objects (typically from thrift shops) particularly to use them for projects. This is such an easy way to add interest to a simple basket! Of course it would be difficult to give exact instructions considering baskets are mostly different, but I’ll tell you all what I did.

You Need:

-A basket (one with a loose weaving or a design will work best.)
-Embroidery thread

One:

Think of the type of design you’d like to create. Take the first color of thread you plan on using and secure it around a part of the basket.

Two:
Weave in your first color. Repeat with any other colors included in your design.

Like I said, a quick project. At the very least I hope it provides some inspiration!

It’s officially fall, and like it or not, that also means it is officially pumpkin spice everything season! I must admit I am definitely one of those ‘pumpkin people’. I can’t resist it. It calls to me. I’ve recently been making chia seed pudding in various flavors semi regularly, so I felt it would be appropriate to come up with a pumpkin spice version!

One:
Whisk together the almond milk and pumpkin until it’s smooth and all the lumps are gone. Add the brown sugar and spices and whisk until they are incorporated.

Two:
Add the chia seeds and mix them in. You want to make sure they are all submerged into the liquid.

Three:
Place the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 or 3 hours while the chia seeds gelatinize. Mix the pudding a few times during this period. After the seeds have gelatinized, it’s good to stay in the fridge however long you want!

Four:
Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and serve. I feel a bit of whipped cream would also be lovely, but I’m trying to be healthy…

So, I have recently picked up a new hobby. I came across this weaving class series on one of my favorite blogs, and decided to give it a try. One thing about me: I don’t like spending money on something that I’m not sure I’ll like or use… Weaving requires a loom. Since I wasn’t certain I would even enjoy weaving, I didn’t want to make the commitment of purchasing a loom I potentially would barely use.

There are a ton of DIY Loom projects on Pinterest, but most of those also required me to purchase something or another. I wanted to use only things I already had. Here’s what I came up with!

You Need:
-A box with a lid (such as a shoe box)
-Nails or screws (I used screws because that is what I had)
-Hammer
-Measuring device
-Marker
-Box cutter

One:
Cut the box so that it is the same height as the lid. I simply put the lid next to the box and traced where to cut.

Two:
Use your measuring device to mark dots 1/2″ apart on one side of each component of the box.

Three:
Insert a nail (or screw) where each dot is. Leave about 1/2″ of the nail raised above the surface.

You’re done and ready to get weaving! The great thing about this ‘loom’ is that it’s easy to adjust it for most any size weaving. Just place the two components as close or as far apart as you desire!

I’ve made a few weavings now, and I must say that I do enjoy it! While I probably would not have regretted purchasing an actual loom (and I may still do so with one of these: looms), I am glad that I tried it out beforehand.

Harper is a well known industrial designer who’s career spanned from the 1930s to 1983. You’ve probably encountered a lot of his designs without even knowing it, but I’m not here to share his career designs with you, I’m here to share his paper sculptures!

After his retirement, Harper took to creating paper sculptures as a hobby to keep himself occupied. He has now (at 96 years old!) created around 300 of these sculptures, which are all on display in his own home.

Take a look at a few of them!

The owl is his last completed work, and is by far my favorite! You can see a bit more as well as acquire additional information in this article.

I was first introduced to brussel sprouts in my college cooking class. I had never tried them before. This was mainly because they were one of those veggies deemed “gross” by a lot of people. Kind of like spinach (which I think is great). Well this one day in college, I was required to try them, and you know what? I LOVED them! Ever since then I’ve been making them in different variations pretty regularly. This recipe, however, is inspired by the recipe that originally caused me to fall in love with them.

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Welcome!

Hi!
My friends call me the whale.
My real name is Sondra.
I like to be creative. Scratch that. Being creative is my life.
I'm an interior designer. I love to thrift.
I sew, crochet, cook, craft, paint... I do a lot of things.
This blog is a documentation of some of my endeavors.
I hope it inspires you to do something creative as well!
-The Whale